Composer Peter Lieuwen, professor of music and composer in residence at Texas A&M University, will hear his Concerto for Piano, Marimba and Orchestra be performed for the first time as part of the Texas Music Festival.

From a composer's seat in the audience, hearing a new work for the first time is nothing short of terrifying.

At least that's the case for Peter Lieuwen, who will be in the audience Saturday when the Texas Music Festival orchestra performs his Concerto for Piano, Marimba, and Orchestra.

“But it is also exciting in a good way,” said Lieuwen, professor of music and composer-in-residence at Texas A&M University.

The premiere of the concerto comes in the first big orchestra concert of the Texas Music Festival, a training program for college, graduate-school-age and young professional musicians.

This year the festival welcomes about 90 student musicians for more than a month of lessons, rehearsals and concerts. The students receive tuition fellowships for the participation. Others also come for special institutes for high school pianists and training and performance in vocal music, guitar and jazz.

The festival was founded in 1990 in part by classical music patrons Immanuel and Helen Olshan to offer a Houston alternative to summer music programs in places like Colorado and Massachusetts. In addition to the training for the musicians, the festival offers summer concerts for the local community, said festival general and music director Alan Austin.

“Over the years, it shifted from more local students as the reputation of the festival has grown and our faculty has expanded,” Austin said. “It has become more of national and international festival.”

The concert Saturday features Lieuwen's concerto, composed for Cuban-born brothers, pianist Leonel Morales and marimba player Jesus Morales, who will perform it at the Moore's Opera House.

Lieuwen met Leonel Morales at a concert in Italy. Pianist and composer became admirers of each other's music.

“He came up to me at intermission and said, ‘If you write a piece for me, I'll play it,'” Lieuwen recalled.

When Morales was presented with the first movement, he suggested that Lieuwen add his brother, Jesus, and the marimba for the second and third movements.

The result was a double concerto for an unusual combination of soloists, Lieuwen said. “I really liked the way the two instruments complemented each other,” he added.

The festival has a tradition of performing new music and commissioning works, Austin said.

Playing before a living composer offers music students a different performance and rehearsal experience, he said.

“It is great for the students,” Austin said, “because it teaches them that music is more than a museum.”